Columnists

Our contributing columnists cover a wide range of topics that are important to both themselves and a wider audience. Their coverage lets readers form their own opinions on the issues that matter to their daily lives. Our columnists are engaging, sometimes witty, and always insightful as they delve into the issues that capture our attention, evoke our emotions or simply make us laugh.

TED BARRIS – The Barris Beat For most of my professional life, I have been in love… in love with words and in love with applying the best descriptions those words can deliver about the people, places and events I encounter in the stories I write for print, media and online publication. My column, The Barris Beat (coined by my late father, Alex, when he wrote a column for the Globe & Mail in the 1950s) demands that I never stop searching for vivid ways of putting a human face in words to community, service, colour, memory and innovation around me. As a new or regular reader of my weekly column, you can expect that I’ll keep trying to bring that love affair with words and life to each column.

ROGER VARLEY – AM I Wrong? / A Cup Of Coffee
I began writing for The Cosmos 10 years ago when I retired after spending most of my working life in the news business.
I began my career with The Canadian Press, the best training ground for journalists, and spent almost 30 years there. I worked for a few years with The Uxbridge Times-Journal until it was acquired by Metroland and then worked for York Metroland, where I was a co-winner of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association ‘s feature writing award. On joining The Cosmos, I brought back my Am I Wrong? column and my Cup of Coffee interviews, both of which started when I was at the Times-Journal. For the last 10 years, I have reported regularly on Uxbridge council and the Uxbridge Bruins and have covered the local candidates in every municipal, provincial and federal election in that time. In my time I have interviewed prime ministers, party leaders, cabinet ministers, entertainment stars and sports notables. But my 10 years at The Cosmoshave been the most enjoyable.

SHELAGH FITZ – Writing Fitz
For me, writing has always been a way to explore the world around me, the people I encounter, the places I visit and the events that colour my world. Now, as I find myself in the liminal space between the life I had and the life I am creating, my return to writing has offered me an opportunity to consider the impact choices have on those around us, those in our community and those on the global stage. I believe the sharing of those words is a way to build community. I don’t have a piece of paper that states I am qualified to write – technically I am a biologist – but I hope my words capture a sentiment such that they resonate on some level with at least of few of the Cosmos’ readers.

ROGER PIRES – Ravenshoe RamblingsHi, I’m Roger. The Cosmos has kindly allowed me to write for them since 2005. And I don’t even have to pay them for it. I write about everyday stuff. You know: my wife, my kids, how the neighbours put up a fence because they’re tired of me mowing the lawn in my underwear.I have a piece of paper on my wall that says I graduated from U of T with a B.A. in English Literature. It’s very nice and has pretty colours. And of course it prepared me well for my career as a computer programmer. But most of what I find useful to navigate through life I learned on the field playing football and rugby and on the ice playing hockey. Things like leadership, teamwork, and how not to get crushed by the big picture (or by the big defenseman who’d love to tattoo his number on your forehead). It also doesn’t hurt to watch, to listen, and to learn. Sometimes you’re going to fall down. Just get up, brush off the dust, and get back on the horse. And whatever you do, don’t forget to laugh a little. It’ll go a long, long way.

NANCY MELCHER – The Nature Nut I AM the “Nature Nut”. After more than four decades of environmental education and with an ongoing love of the outdoors, I have a wealth of information to share about the natural world around us. As a result, I often get assignments for the paper that are related to the environment. I welcome questions about things you’ve seen or heard, smelled or touched, or even tasted in the great outdoors and on local trails and roads.I am also active in local community theatre, and you might find me acting on the stage, or perhaps working behind the scenes helping to build sets and stage-managing. I’m in touch with the wider arts community, and through “Art-y Facts” I try to keep Cosmos readers in tune with upcoming concerts, exhibitions, book readings, plays, and special events. I moved to Coppins Corners in 1983, and shortly thereafter my husband and I moved into town: we’ve lived here ever since. We’ve raised our son here, and enjoy the vibrant lifestyle that this community offers. It is definitely the centre of our universe!

LISHA VAN NIEUWENHOVE – A Blonde Moment “A Blonde Moment” was how I first found my words on the pages of The Uxbridge Cosmos. Former editor Conrad Boyce and I were doing a play together, he discovered I had a background in journalism and writing, and he asked me to write a column. A few short years later, I found myself at the helm of the best little newspaper in Durham Region (in my opinion). I still like to take off the editor hat, every now and again, and write a “Blonde” column because it lets me give voice to things that I love to write about but have no place anywhere else in the paper. And just to note – my hair is naturally blonde.

CONRAD BOYCE – Wandering the Cosmos I’m a native Albertan, and lived many years in both B.C. and the Yukon before emigrating to Ontario in 1995. I became involved in the Uxbridge arts community almost immediately, but was obliged to work elsewhere until I became the founding editor/publisher of the Cosmos in 2005. Among the other local writing projects I’m most proud of are Maud of Leaskdale, the one-woman play I created for the LMMSO in Leaskdale, and Jewel on the Hill, the book about the Thomas Foster Memorial I wrote in 2014. I now live in the Ottawa Valley, where I babysit grandchildren and am finding other things to keep me busy!

JOHN CAVERS (Freelance Photographer) Freelancing my images to The Cosmos has allowed me to visually document many special events and to meet so many new people. It is a real privilege to promote what a terrific town and newspaper we have. I appreciate The Cosmos being truly a “local” enterprise…so that whatever function I attend it has to focus on the people and happenings of Uxbridge.
I also do wildlife photography and have four galleries selling my work around the province. I have the honour of working with the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and now the World Baseball Hall of Fame. I even have my work posted on the Canadian and National Geographic Websites. However, nothing brings me more satisfaction than getting that “Special Shot” of someone in town and creating a lasting memory when they see themselves in the Uxbridge Cosmos! Watch out, you could next!

I have been a professional film critic since 1988, but in truth I became a film critic at the age of 12, after watching Charlton Heston part the Red Sea in The Ten Commandments (1956) when the film was re-issued into theatres in 1972 or 1973.

I love film. It is my obsession, and I will bring that obsession to these pages for as long as The Cosmos will have me. I am also a theatre director, and have directed over 40 plays. I’ve been a television producer, taught at the Toronto Film School, and am a published author.

Scott Campsall has never met a martial art he didn’t like, and Jennifer never stops moving. Together, they are the perfect combination to direct the path of Okami Kai Martial Arts and Fitness, originally founded in September1999.The martial arts gave Scott not only a way to stay in shape and an insight into how to defend himself should the need ever arise, but it also has been a constant supply of information to increase and improve his mental growth and physical health.Physical fitness has always been a huge part of Jennifer’s life, whether it be as a runner, fitness class instructor, personal trainer, and most recently as a black belt in Karate!They have a lot of accomplishments of which to be proud, but this is all secondary to how they are able to be parents to four wonderful kids. Yes, that’s right. We’re writing our own bio and we’ve called our children wonderful.We’re on a constant journey to improve ourselves and we hope you’ll join us; maybe we can provide something that can benefit your life a little too.